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The differences between group fitness instructors and fitness specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a group fitness instructor and a fitness specialist. Additionally, a group fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,867, which is higher than the $32,472 average annual salary of a fitness specialist.
The top three skills for a group fitness instructor include CPR, yoga and customer service. The most important skills for a fitness specialist are CPR, fitness assessments, and ACSM.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,867 | $32,472 |
| Hourly rate | $17.24 | $15.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 38,457 | 28,175 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A group fitness instructor is responsible for creating fitness programs for a group with the same fitness goals, tailoring special instructions to engage the group and helping each individual achieve their healthy lifestyle objectives. Group fitness instructors monitor each trainee's progress, adjusting exercise routines and diet plans as needed, and ensuring that the group follows the training disciplines during fitness sessions. They must have excellent knowledge of the fitness industry, including the latest routines to provide options and a wide range of fitness programs.
A Fitness Specialist is focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and working with clients in various settings. They teach individuals or groups how to properly perform exercises and use exercise equipment.
Group fitness instructors and fitness specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,867 | $32,472 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $54,000 | Between $24,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater State University | University Settlement |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a group fitness instructor and a fitness specialist in terms of educational background:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between group fitness instructors' and fitness specialists' demographics:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |